גָּרַף
𐤂𐤓𐤐
gâraph
H1640 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To sweep away, remove quickly and forcefully, especially as by a sudden or powerful physical action. The verb commonly expresses the action of washing away, clearing off, or forcibly carrying away by water, flood, or other overwhelming means. In extended usage, it can refer to the destruction or removal of individuals or groups, especially in the context of divine or natural judgment.
Semantic Range
to sweep away forcibly, wash or sweep away by water or flood, carry off suddenly or violently, remove or clear off as with a broom or flood, destroy through sweeping removal
Root / Etymology
Root: גרף (g-r-p). The root connotes the action of scraping, sweeping, or removing. The verb גָּרַף derives from this root and refers to the act of sweeping away or forcibly removing, particularly as with a flood or other overwhelming force. The term is not widely attested outside of Hebrew, but its basic semantic motivation aligns with related Semitic languages' vocabulary for sweeping or scraping actions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb גָּרַף appears only a few times in the Hebrew Bible, always denoting a forceful removal, typically likened to the action of water sweeping away objects. Its occurrences are often metaphorical, suggesting powerful, unstoppable forces at work in judgment or destruction. The image is concrete, conjuring up the cleaning of an area by water or similar means, and extends to the removal of people (e.g., as punishment or disaster). The term is distinct from other Hebrew verbs for destruction or removal, such as שָׁמַד (shamad, 'to destroy completely'), in that it specifically carries the nuance of sweeping or carrying away rather than simply annihilating. In later Hebrew, the root developed connotations related to scraping. Modern English Bible translations typically render גָּרַף as 'sweep away,' which accurately captures the root action but sometimes underplays the violence and suddenness implied in some contexts. The root is rare in biblical Hebrew and does not show significant semantic shift across periods, remaining focused on violent, sweeping removal.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to bear off violently; sweep away.
Bantu Hebrew
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גרף (g-r-p) — sweep, scrape, remove forcibly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1640-01 |
גְּרָפָ֔/ם | gerafam | HVqp3ms/Sp3mp |
swept them away | he swept them away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1640-01 |
Judges 5:21 | גְּרָפָ֔/ם | gerafam | HVqp3ms/Sp3mp |
swept them away | he swept them away |